National Blue Ribbon honors for 3 NM schools
Academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps noted
The U.S. Department of Education has recognized three New Mexico schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017 based on their overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. They are:
Arrowhead Park Early College High School in Las Cruces
Desert View Elementary School in Sunland Park
Wood Gormley Elementary School in Santa Fe
“National Blue Ribbon Schools are active demonstrations of preparing every child for a bright future,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to the honorees in a statement.
“You are visionaries, innovators and leaders,” she said. “You have much to teach us: some of you personalize student learning, others engage parents and communities in the work and life of your local schools, and still others develop strong and forward-thinking leaders from among your teaching staff.”
The program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap, according to a news release.
The award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content, organizers said.
All schools are honored in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
Exemplary High Performing Schools are among a state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Normed refers to standardized norm-referenced tests designed to compare and rank test takers in relation to one another.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among a state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years, organizers said.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year.
The program, now in its 35th year, has recognized more than 8,500 schools.
On Nov. 6-7, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with these honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.